Concerns from the nation’s biggest employers over a “secret deal” between Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and the Greens, could see Prime Minister Anthony Albanese scrap plans to establish an environmental watchdog before next year’s election.
Concerns centre on claims the agreement could lead to “significant economic harm” and that Plibersek might be given the power to unilaterally establish environmental standards, without consultation on what those standards were.
“If the Greens get their way, there will likely be significant economic harm inflicted on the Australian economy and jobs,” Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black said.
“Major housing, mining and critical minerals and renewable projects could be put at risk with the addition of more regulation that only creates a higher bar for proponents, without the necessary benefits to approval speeds and processes that the Samuel Review recommended.”
The Coalition similarly expressed fears that ongoing negotiations between Plibersek and Greens environment spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young could result in increased regulatory burdens.
Minerals Council expresses concern
Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable accused the government of striking a “secret deal” with the Greens that would “damage the economy, drive away investment and destroy jobs”.
“What concessions has the government made to secure the Greens’ support, turning a flawed bill into an even greater burden for businesses, farmers and, ultimately, Australian households?” she said.
“The government should be focused on cost of living, not inventing some giant new bureaucracy in Canberra that will dictate from desks what projects should go ahead, and what projects should not, without any consideration to the economic benefits.”
The Greens have dropped their demand for a climate trigger but are pushing to remove exemptions for native forest logging under environmental laws and remain concerned about funding for coal and gas through green hydrogen tax credits.